Dial Range Mountain Bike network
Overview
The Dial Range Mountain Bike network is a community-built singletrack and forestry-trail system in the foothills of the Dial Range, ~2 km south of Penguin on Tasmania's North West Coast. It is the home riding area of the Cradle Coast Mountain Bike Club (CCMBC), and effectively spans two linked areas: (1) the Penguin MTB Park — sited on the grounds of the old Penguin Speedway just off Ironcliffe Road — with ~6 km of cross-country singletrack, jumps, wall rides, a freeride zone with a 6 m curved wall ride and container drops, and a small skills park aimed at progressing newer riders; and (2) the broader Dial Range trails to the south, headlined by the ~5 km Montgomery Loop (the first official MTB trail in the range), the Iron Tor climb/descent pair, and an upgraded network of stitched-together forestry roads.
The system is well known nationally as the venue of the Cranky Penguin Mountain Bike Marathon — a 70 km marathon (with a 40 km "Not-So-Cranky" short course) that climbs from sea level through the range to near the summit of Mt Duncan and descends back to town. The event opens sections of the range not normally signed for riding, which is part of what gives the network its appeal: a strong "ride from town" feel, in a small Tasmanian coastal community, with progression terrain at the park and bigger backcountry-style loops a few kilometres south.
The Dial Range Recreational Management Plan (Central Coast Council + Parks and Wildlife Tasmania, completed 2024) now formally guides recreation in the area. The CCMBC has publicly outlined a three-stage plan to build out to 60 km of trail in the range; Central Coast Council pledged $58,000 toward a 4.5 km upgrade of the Mount Montgomery Loop, with CCMBC contributing
3,000 and pursuing state cycle-tourism funding for the balance.
Location & Access
- Town: Penguin, ~2 km south on Ironcliffe Road
- Region: North West Coast, Tasmania
- Address (DB): Ironcliffe Road, Penguin, TAS 7316
- Coords (DB): -41.138421, 146.046315
- Drive times: Devonport ~25 min east, Burnie ~25 min west, Launceston ~1 h 30, Hobart ~4 h
- Access: From the Bass Highway, exit toward Penguin and follow signs to the Penguin Regional Sports Centre / Ironcliffe Road. Limited parking exists at a small area near a yellow boom gate ~100 m from Sports Complex Road; during events, secondary parking is available inside the park via a second boom gate at a strict <10 km/h crawl due to active trails. Additional trailheads serve Mt Montgomery and Ferndene.
Best Season & Conditions
- Open year-round; the maritime north-west coast is one of Tasmania's milder MTB regions.
- Some tracks can be slippery after rain — riders should let trails recover after heavy rain to protect surfaces.
- Most riders favour spring through autumn; winter remains rideable but cold/wet.
- Some sections of the Dial Range are only formally opened during the Cranky Penguin race.
Managing Body & Trail Builders
- Trails: Cradle Coast Mountain Bike Club Inc (CCMBC) — builds, maintains, and represents the network. Club address: Ironcliffe Road, Penguin / PO Box 458, Penguin TAS 7316. Email: club@ccmbc.com.au. Board (per contact-us page): President Chris Fletcher, Vice-President Chris Stredwick, Secretary Craig Kerr, Treasurer Emma Lee.
- Land: Penguin MTB Park sits on a Central Coast Council land lease (signed July 2012 at the old speedway). The broader Dial Range sits within state Regional Reserve / forestry land — Parks and Wildlife Tasmania and Sustainable Timber Tasmania are co-stewards, with the 2024 Dial Range Recreational Management Plan formalising recreation use.
- The existing DB value "Cradle Coast Mountain Bike Club Inc (CCMBC); land managed by Central Coast Council and State Forestry/Regional Reserve" is accurate — no change.
History & Background
- 2009 (July): First organisational meeting of what became CCMBC.
- 2012 (July): Land lease signed for the old Penguin Speedway site — what would become Penguin MTB Park.
- 2010s: Volunteer build of the XC singletrack, freeride/jump zone, wall rides, and skills park. Stitching of older Dial Range forestry trails into rideable loops.
- Montgomery Loop became the first official MTB trail in the Dial Range proper.
- 2024: Dial Range Recreational Management Plan finalised by Central Coast Council and Parks & Wildlife Tasmania after four years of consultation — clears the path for further MTB build-out (CCMBC's stage 2/3 of the 60 km plan).
- Cranky Penguin Marathon: long-running marathon event that has helped put the area on the national MTB map.
Recent News & Updates
- 2024: Recreational Management Plan completed — major unlock for future build.
- 2024–2025: Mount Montgomery Loop 4.5 km upgrade funded ($58k Central Coast Council,